We Failed, But Grew Some Dendrites

We love the challenge of a Google BreakOut EDU. The object of a BreakOut EDU  is to solve several puzzles while working together with other members of your team. Each puzzle unlocks one of the locks on the box. You have 45 minutes to do it, and we were allowed ONE hint per team. If you unlock all the locks within 45 minutes, you win! 

Last October, we were successful when we did the TEAMWORK BreakOut with Mrs. Garcia.  There are many games to choose from. 

This BreakOut EDU was a Valentine themed BreakOut, so Carol the red bear came out to watch the progress. Carol LOVES to watch students working together to solve problems!

Mrs. Minicozzi was there with her enthusiasm and positive attitude! She brought the district's BreakOut EDU box and all the puzzles. 

Mrs. Minicozzi started the clock and the teams got started! Some of the puzzles involved finding hidden digits that unlocked a lock. 

Other puzzles required graphing and then using the data to come up with a 3-digit number that would unlock a lock. Concepts like even and odd and place value positions were important.  

One puzzle required a lot of addition and then some attention to little details. Everything is important when you're trying to solve the puzzles! 

One particularly difficult puzzle involved a black light and some clue cards. Students had to think...what do all these clues have in common?  

Students worked together on the puzzles. Sometimes, it was frustrating. 

Some puzzles were solved and a few locks were opened. 

Unfortunately, after 45 minutes, we were not successful.

Our failure gave us an opportunity to reflect about the game. What worked? What didn't work? How did each person handle frustration? Although we would always prefer to win, it is through failure that we grow and learn. As you learn your brain grows new dendrites! 

Here are some question to think about as you reflect: 

1. As you look back at the BreakOut EDU experience, what did you learn about yourself? 

2. What would you do differently next time? 

3. What did you miss that surprised you? 

4. Without giving away any answers, what tips would you offer a class attempting to solve a BreakOut EDU?

5. How did you keep yourself going when it got difficult? 

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BreakOut EDU!

Mrs. Garcia came to our room today with a fabulous game! 
It was called BreakOut EDU! 

Photo by Mrs. Yollis

First, Mrs. Yollis put us into eight teams, one for each letter in the word TEAMWORK. Then Mrs. Garcia explained the rules. We would have 45 minutes to solve eight problems. A correct answer would lead to a number or word that unlocked a lock. Two hints were permitted. 

Photo by Mrs. Yollis

Would we be able to unlock them all?  

Photo by Mrs. Yollis 

TEAMWORK was important!
If you finished your task and unlocked one lock, you were free to go and help other teams. 

 Everyone was intrigued with the locks.  

Photo by Mrs. Yollis 

With 45 minutes on the clock, we began our challenge! 

Some students worked with Morse code.

Others constructed a time line. 

These two are discussing a math task to solve a mystery. 

Hundreds charts and logical reasoning were used repeatedly.

Sometimes the locks opened. Other times they did not. 

If the code didn't open the lock, we had to try something new. 

 

One by one we began our escape! 

Here we are at the halfway mark! Four unlocked. 

With over nine minutes to spare, we unlocked the box! This was our second attempt to break out, and we used teamwork and perseverance to succeed. 

Photo by Mrs. Garcia

We loved this type of collaborative learning!  A tip of the hat to Jeanine Huebner for the BreakOut EDU tasks! 

Without revealing too many clues, what was difficult about your task?

What did you learn about yourself from this experience? 

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BreakOut EDU!

Mrs. Minicozzi (aka @CoffeeNancy) came to our room today with a fabulous game! It was called BreakOut EDU! 

Photos by Mrs. Yollis 

The object of the game was to complete several tasks and unlock the box. 

TEAMWORK was important!
It you finished your task and unlocked one lock, you were free to go and help other teams. 

 Everyone was intrigued with the locks.  

QUESTION: How do we get the locks open?

ANSWER: Students were given 45 minutes to solve a variety of  puzzles and tasks. Each solution unlocked a lock.

Some students worked with codes.

Others made calculations. 

Hundreds charts and logical reasoning were used repeatedly.

A flashlight was unlocked and used to reveal a secret code.  

At the very last second, we unlocked the box! 

We loved this type of collaborative learning!  A tip of the hat to Jeanine Huebner for the BreakOut EDU tasks! 

Mrs. Minicozzi took this funny picture of Mrs. Yollis and tweeted it out! 

Nobody beats @lindayollis when it comes to getting a good camera angle! #breakoutedu #lvusd pic.twitter.com/LeA0rSr6Pe

— Nancy Minicozzi (@CoffeeNancy) May 26, 2016

Congratulations! 

We escaped with one second to spare! #lvusd #breakoutedu pic.twitter.com/mBqSzP9mwG

— Linda Yollis (@lindayollis) May 26, 2016

Without revealing too many clues, what was difficult about your task?

What did you learn about yourself from this task? 

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